Lug wrench

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to lug wrenches that are commonly used to remove the nuts or lug bolts that secure an automobile wheel to the break drum and more particularly to a lug wrench of the impact type that will enable the user to easily remove in seconds the most rusted and impacted on nut and one which otherwise would be impossible to remove using conventional automobile supplied apparatus.

United States Patent [191 Davis, Jr.

[451 Mar. 26, 1974 LUG WRENCH [22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:285,312

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1918 Lawrence 81/177BXl/l969 Van Nostrand 8l/52.3

2,744,431 5/1956 Scime 8l/52.3

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 177,973 4/1922 Great Britain 81/185Primary Examiner.lames L. Jones, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT This invention relates generally to lug wrenches that arecommonly used to remove the nuts or lug bolts that secure an automobilewheel to the break drum and more particularly to a lug wrench of theimpact type that will enable the user to easily remove in seconds themost rusted and impacted on nut and one which otherwise would beimpossible to remove using conventional automobile supplied apparatus.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures LUG WRENCH It is a common experience uponhaving a flat tire to be unable to mount the spare because of theinability to remove the wheel securing nuts. This condition is becomingmore common with the increasing use, by service stations and garages, ofthe power driven impact wrench. Such wrenches, if improperly adjusted orapplied too long to the wheel securing nuts, so tighten these nuts thatremoval with conventional apparatus is impossible.

A recent police report in a travel journal indicated that at least halfthe cars stranded by the side of the road with flat tires were therebecause of the inability of the driver to remove the damaged wheel. Itis for this reason that the police in several states are required tocarry an extended pull bar and socket to assist these drivers strandedbecause of the tightness of the wheel securing nuts.

While this tool was designed primarily for removing rusted or impactedon wheel securing nuts, it may also be used to so impact on a nut as toprevent its removal except by using this tool or a power driven impactwrench and in this manner prevent wheels being stolen by thievesequipped only with conventional lug wrenches.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple wrench ofthe impact type that will enable a woman or even a child of ten to takeoff the most rusted and impacted on wheel securing nut or lug bolt withrelative ease. In fact there is no way a power driven impact wrench cantighten a wheel securing nut that cannot be easily removed with thistool in a matter of sec onds.

A further object is to provide a manual impact wrench particularlyadaptable for removing automobile wheel securing nuts quickly and easilyregardless of the degree of rust or tightness of the nut.

A further object is to provide a simple lug wrench of the manual impacttype that by removing or inserting one or more sleeve-like hexagonalbushings within the socket of the tool, the tool is adaptable to fitvarying sizes of nut or lug bolt heads.

A still further object is to provide a simple tool of the characterdescribed that is cheap to manufacture, rugged in construction, yethighly reliable in operation and which may be more readily understood byreferring now to the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view in elevation of the tool of the invention.

FIG. 2, is a fragmentary end view in elevation of the socket end portionof the tool.

FIG. 3, is a fragmentary plan view in elevation of the enlarged impactsurfaces provided upon the impact arms.

FIG. 4, is a view in elevation of the socket portion of the tool andshowing the arrangement and securement of a hexagonal insert within thetool socket enabling its use for a different size nut.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the invention is shown as including a hexagonalsocket portion 2 of a size suitable for being received over anautomobile wheel securing nut such as those that secure the wheel to thebreak drum ofthe car. Axially, extending from the closed end of thesocket is a relatively short handle portion 3 preferably over which issleaved and cemented thereto a ribbed, fluted or knarled rubber orplastic gripping member 4.

Extending obliquely backwards from the socket end of the tool andpreferably at an angle of from 15 to from the handle axis are what herewill be called impact arms 5, the ends of which are so formed as toinclude somewhat enlarged portions 6 which provide the im pact surfacesof the tool. These arms radiate from the socket head of the tool in sucha manner that when a blow is applied to these impact surfaces 6 theforce of the impact is carried along the arm to the socket with verylittle effect being felt at the handle portion 4 of the tool.

The design of the tool is such that the socket end portion of the toolis maintained as small and compact as practical for allowing the tool towork freely within the confines of an automobile rim and thereby leavingthe arms 5 free to extend obliquely outward and readily accessible forbeing struck with a hammer or like tool for impacting off the rimsecuring nuts. When using this tool, a light tapping with a hammer uponthe impact surfaces 6 will loosen the most rusted and impacted on rimsecuring nut. After loosening of the nut, the nut may then be spun offby rotating the handle portion 4 of the tool.

While the tool is shown as having two impact arms extending from thesocket end of the tool, it is understood that one or even three or morearms will suffice. Further, while the arms 5 are shown as radiatingbackwards from the socket head proper, the tool will work with the armssecured to the handle. Preferably just back of the socket.

FIG. 4 shows a variation of the invention wherein a hexogonal insert 7is shown as sleeved into the socket portion 2 of the tool and secured asby the set screw 8. This arrangement enables the user to adapt the toolto the size of the wheel securing nuts as lug bolts of his particularcar. Generally, all passenger car wheels are secured with nuts that areeither 3/4 or l3/ l in size.

While the tool as shown is on working concept of the invention, it isunderstood that various modifications and variations in itsconfigeration may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the device as herein shown.

I claim:

I. An impact assist lug wrench for removing the nuts securing anautomobile wheel to the break drum including a socket portion for beingreceived over the nut to be loosened, a handle portion the axis thereofextending axially from the closed end of said socket, said handleportion including a frictional gripping surface upon the opposite end ofsaid handle from said socket, one or more arms affixed to and extendingfrom the body of said socket in the direction of said handle at an angleof from 15 to 80 from said handle axis and to which an impact may beapplied to assist rotation of said handle and socket.

2. A lug wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein enlarged impact surfacesare provided upon the free end of said arms.

3. A lug wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein a hand gripping surface isprovided upon the end portion of said handle opposite said socket.

4. A lug wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein a removable hexagonalinsert within the socket end portion of the tool adapts the tool fordiffering size nuts.

1. An impact assist lug wrench for removing the nuts securing anautomobile wheel to the break drum including a socket portion for beingreceived over the nut to be loosened, a handle portion the axis thereofextending axially from the closed end of said socket, said handleportion including a frictional gripping surface upon the opposite end ofsaid handle from said socket, one or more arms affixed to and extendingfrom the body of said socket in the direction of said handle at an angleof from 15* to 80* from said handle axis and to which an impact may beapplied to assist rotation of said handle and socket.
 2. A lug wrench asclaimed in claim 1 wherein enlarged impact surfaces are provided uponthe free end of said arms.
 3. A lug wrench as claimed in claim 1 whereina hand gripping surface is provided upon the end portion of said handleopposite said socket.
 4. A lug wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein aremovable hexagonal insert within the socket end portion of the tooladapts the tool for differing size nuts.